Investigators believe that a Tuscaloosa County man sexually victimized at least 11 young boys over the course of 30 years.

Steve William Karr, 53, faces 25 sexual abuse charges in a case that Sheriff Ted Sexton compared to that of former Penn State assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky.

“This is the largest-scale victimization that we have seen, at least in my career,” he said. “That’s why we feel that there are more victims out there.”

Sexton said that Karr would befriend families who would entrust him to care for their children.

“They were all boys. They would start out doing things that boys like — mud riding, four-wheeling, going out in boats. That eventually led to things like skinny-dipping,” Sexton said. “It’s the same type of actions that went on with the Sandusky case in Penn State.”
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office first investigated Karr in 2002. They received more information about sexual crimes he allegedly committed in 2008 and 2010, he said.

“These are not fast investigations. As the investigation continued, we had enough to take evidence to a grand jury,” Sexton said, adding that he believes more victims came forward when the Sandusky case received nationwide media attention in November.

The cases date back 30 years. Victims range in age from seven to 15, he said.

A grand jury returned indictments against Karr on Dec. 21. He was charged Thursday with seven counts of first-degree sodomy, 16 counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12. His bail was set at $1 million.

“We’re still in the early stages of moving the case through the court system so we can’t go into many details,” Sexton said. “We are urging anyone who was a victim or who knows of any victims to contact us.”

Investigator Pam Kirsch can be contacted at 205-464-8647. People can also submit information through the Sheriff’s Office website at www.tcsoal.org.